Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA): Step-by-Step Surgical Photo Tour • Step 7 of 24
Surgical Step Description
Electrocautery resection of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) footprint off the posterior slope of the proximal tibia, critical for posterior subluxation and flexion gap optimization in posterior-stabilized (PS) knee designs.
Master Class Pro-Tip: Intraoperative Pearl
Place a blunt Hohmann or Z-retractor directly posterior to the tibial plateau before resecting the PCL footprint to protect the popliteal neurovascular bundle. Releasing the PCL significantly opens the flexion gap and permits anterior translation of the proximal tibia.
Master Class Pro-Tip: PCL Detachment & Posterior Neurovascular Protection
Curator & Series Attribution
Curated by Dr. Joseph Bernstein, MD (Director of Education) • Managing Editor: Dr. Christian Veillette, MD • OrthopaedicsOne Surgical Education Series • Adult Reconstruction: Knee
Last Updated on September 28, 2026
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